Major retrospective on Manchester artist, Emmanuel Levy- the first for over 30 years. 'Made in Manchester: The Art of Emmanuel Levy (1900-1986)' explores Levy's Mancunian heritage and showcase his talents as a painter, writer and teacher.

Born in Manchester in 1900 Levy studied at Manchester School of Art, where he trained under Adolph Valette, alongside L.S. Lowry with whom he remained friends. Levy held his first one-man show in Manchester in 1925, with others following throughout the 1920s and 1930s. In 1928 Levy was appointed special instructor in life drawing at Manchester University School of Architecture, succeeding his former tutor, Valette. In the 1950s and 1960s he went on to lecture at Stockport College of Art. To supplement his income, Levy was also Art Critic for the Manchester Evening News. Retrospectives of his work have been held across the country, the last being at Stockport Art Gallery in 1982.

Levy's Northern heritage is shown through works such as 'Snow in the North' and 'Raiders Overhead' where the setting is Levy's home during a World War Two air raid. Levy's Jewish roots are reflected through works such as 'Two Rabbis with Scrolls of the Law' (illustrated) and 'Crucifixion', painted by Levy in response to the Holocaust. The exhibition also showcases Levy's skills as a portrait artist, through arresting portraits such as 'Girl at a Window' and sketches of contemporary artists such as L.S. Lowry.

The exhibition draws primarily from the collection of Ben Uri, The London Jewish Museum of Art, who have also curated the show with the museum. Additional works are on loan from city galleries in Manchester, Leeds, Salford and Doncaster and from private collectors.

Last month we made a discovery. Curator Alexandra Grime, spotted the similarity between a portrait by the artist and an unsigned painting in the museum's own collection. As it turns out, her hunch was right: the museum's unknown painting has since been verified as Levy's portrait of Mark Bloom. Read more on Creative Tourist.